AFRICA : Muslims oppose plan to declare Liberia a Christian state

ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF

A proposal to declare Liberia a Christian state is raising questions about religious tolerance in the West African country.

The National Muslim Council of Liberia (NMCL) on Friday its withdrawal from the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL) following reports that the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) had supported the proposal.

NMCL Secretary-General Sheikh Akibu Sheriff described as “unfortunate” the fact that the CCL took an institutional position on the matter.

Crafted plan

“It has become unequivocally clear to the Muslim community of Liberia that the Council of Churches has embarked on a carefully crafted plan to declare Liberia a Christian nation,” Mr Sheriff was quoted by the local press.

He said the plan was aimed at imposing “all the features of prejudices” against all other faiths and gives preferential treatment to Christianity.

IRCL was founded during the Liberian civil war to help foster peace.

A major role

It is credited for playing a major role in bringing peace to the country, just like the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone.

The IRCL was established in Freetown in 1990 before war broke out in Sierra Leone, to negotiate between the government of President Samuel K. Doe and Charles Taylor’s rebel forces.

The debate on whether to declare Liberia a Christian state began as early as in 2011.

High profile

The idea has been criticised by some high profile politicians, notably President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and parliamentary Speaker Alex Tyler.

According to reports, an advocate of the idea, the Rev. Arnold Hill, declared the CCL’s position at a recent meeting with a parliamentary committee.

According to reports on Friday evening, the CCL was scheduled to meet next Tuesday to discuss the issue and come up with a position.